AMUSEMENT

King felt the same way. He had so many questions. What was this creature they were up against? Why kill if you didn’t plan to feed? What did it or they want? Was there a bigger goal? A bigger picture that he had been failing to see?

He was glad that he had Emilia alongside. She had a way of seeing through problems, and it was refreshing to know that he could seek a second opinion.

King’s ear twitched and he looked up immediately. He glanced into the distance, making sure. And then he heard it again.

“Did you hear that?” Emilia asked, to King’s surprise.

“I think so,” Emilia replied. “Come on.” They walked several yards down and the sound grew more distinct to Emilia. It was the croaking of a buck.

They found the deer behind a bush, with a deep, red gash on the side of its throat. Blood had soaked into the dirt and grass under the beast, darkening the spot. The buck’s eyes jumped with fear from King to Emilia, and it tried uselessly to move away.

Emilia rushed forward and got down on h